Sphyrapicus nuchalis – Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

Red-naped Sapsucker Photos

By Mia McPherson|April 11th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Clark County, Idaho, Modoc Creek, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Summit County, Targhee National Forest, Uinta National Forest, Utah|Tags: adult, aspen, begging, calls, chick, drumming, female, fledgling, forest, immature, leaving, male, nest, nesting, nesting cavity, nesting season, nesting tree, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, woodpecker, woodpeckers, young|

This morning I wanted to share a few Red-naped Sapsucker photos I have taken while in gorgeous alpine forests of Idaho and Utah.

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Adult Male Red-naped Sapsucker With Food For His Chicks

By Mia McPherson|April 8th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Clark County, Idaho, Modoc Creek, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Targhee National Forest|Tags: adult, aspen, chicks, food, forest, male, nest, nesting cavity, nesting tree, prey, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, woodpecker, woodpeckers|

The adult Red-naped Sapsuckers often clung to the entrance to the nesting cavity for a few seconds before they went inside with the food they had gathered to give to their chicks.

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Photographic Frustrations – Red-naped Sapsuckers in the Targhee National Forest

By Mia McPherson|July 11th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Clark County, Frustrations in bird photography, Idaho, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Targhee National Forest|Tags: adult, aspen, begging, behavior, chick, defensive pose, exposure, exposure compensation, extremes, food, forest, frustrations, lighting conditions, male, nesting, nesting cavity, nesting tree, nestling, photographic, photographing, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, tree, woodpeckers, young|

One year ago today I experienced one of the two most frustrating days in my entire time of being a bird photographer while photographing Red-naped Sapsuckers in the Targhee National Forest of Idaho.

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Male Red-naped Sapsucker Close Ups – Too Much Glass

By Mia McPherson|June 8th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Summit County, Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest, Utah|Tags: adult, aspen, catkins, close up, contact, food, foraging, forest, glass, lens, male, portrait, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, sky, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, tree, trees, woodpecker, woodpeckers|

I spotted a flash of black, white and red as a bird landed in the aspen tree that was closest to me above where the wrens and swallows are nesting and realized that a male Red-naped Sapsucker had flown in and was foraging for food in the buds of the aspen.

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My Year of Bird Photography in 2017

By Mia McPherson|December 31st, 2017|Categories: American Tree Sparrows, American White Pelicans, Birds, Common Goldeneyes, Green-tailed Towhees, Idaho, Prairie Falcons, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Red-tailed Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Short-eared Owls, Swainson's Hawks, Utah, Yellow-rumped Warblers|Tags: American Tree Sparrow, American White Pelican, Asio flammeus, bird photography, Bucephala clangula, Buteo jamaicensis, Buteo lagopus, Buteo swainsoni, Common Goldeneye, Corthylio calendula, Falco mexicanus, Green-tailed Towhee, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, Pipilo chlorurus, Prairie Falcon, Red-naped Sapsucker, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Setophaga coronata, Short-eared Owl, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, Spizella arborea, Swainson's Hawk, Yellow-rumped Warbler|

I love what I do, I love my subjects and it doesn't matter if I find them close to home or further away. I am blessed. 2017 has been wonderful and I am excited for what 2018 may bring.

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Perched male Red-naped Sapsucker in Idaho’s Targhee National Forest

By Mia McPherson|December 4th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Clark County, Idaho, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Targhee National Forest|Tags: adult, background, branch, conifers, forest, forest edge, greenery, male, nesting cavity, perched, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, woodpecker, woodpeckers|

This Red-naped Sapsucker was perched on a dead aspen branch near the nesting cavity where I photographed a chick being fed by the adults in mid July.

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Red-naped Sapsucker Diving Away From Nesting Cavity

By Mia McPherson|August 16th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Clark County, Idaho, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Targhee National Forest|Tags: adult, bounding flight, bullet, diving, diving flight, flight, flying, forest, nesting cavity, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, woodpecker, woodpeckers|

I did find one jewel in the images, a photo of one of the adult Red-naped Sapsuckers flying away from the nesting cavity looking like a bullet.

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Intruding Red-naped Sapsucker – Or Just A Curious Bird?

By Mia McPherson|July 29th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Clark County, Idaho, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Targhee National Forest|Tags: adult, behavior, bib, branch, breast, curious, forest, intruding, male, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, trees, woodpecker, woodpeckers|

I do not believe that this bird was one of the pair of adult Red-naped Sapsuckers I photographed feeding the chick in the nesting cavity, his bib and breast markings were different from the other adult birds.

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Adult Red-naped Sapsucker Feeding its Chick at the Nesting Cavity

By Mia McPherson|July 14th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Clark County, Idaho, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Targhee National Forest|Tags: adult, aspen, cavity, chick, chicks, feeding, feeding behavior, forest, nesting cavity, nesting tree, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, tree, woodpecker, woodpeckers, young|

Although photographing the Red-naped Sapsuckers at the nesting cavity has been frustrating at times it has also been very rewarding to observe all the action of the sapsucker family.

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Targhee National Forest Red-naped Sapsucker Feeding Young

By Mia McPherson|July 12th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Clark County, Idaho, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Targhee National Forest|Tags: adult, aspen, caterpillar, chicks, exposure issues, feeding, forest, landing, Montana, mountains, national forest land, nesting behavior, nesting cavity, nesting tree, prey, public land, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, tree, woodpecker, woodpeckers, young|

Jackpot and frustrations... I'll explain the jackpot first and get to the frustrations later about the Targhee National Forest Red-naped Sapsucker feeding its young.

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Red-naped Sapsucker in the Uinta Mountains

By Mia McPherson|July 7th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Summit County, Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest, Utah|Tags: adult, aspen, cavity, forest, male, mountains, nest, nesting cavity, nesting tree, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, woodpecker, woodpeckers, young|

This male Red-naped Sapsucker was photographed last year in the high Uintas, a mountain range that is east of Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Mountains I can see from where I live.

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Female Red-naped Sapsucker With a Bill Full of Ants

By Mia McPherson|June 18th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Summit County, Uinta National Forest, Utah|Tags: adult, ants, aspen, bill, brood, chicks, close up, female, food, forest, full, photograph, prey, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, tree, woodpecker, woodpeckers|

Maybe next year I'll have better opportunities with these Red-naped Sapsuckers and maybe they will chose to place their new nesting cavity in a location that is easier to photograph.

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Looking at 2016 in the Rear View Mirror or My Photographic Year in Review

By Mia McPherson|December 31st, 2016|Categories: American Barn Owls, American Bitterns, American Pipits, Bald Eagles, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Beaverhead County, Belted Kingfishers, Birds, Box Elder County, Burrowing Owls, Centennial Valley, Clark County, Davis County, Double-crested Cormorants, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Great Horned Owls, High Uintas, Hybrid Geese, Idaho, Leucistic, Montana, Peregrine Falcons, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Red-tailed Hawks, Salt Lake County, Short-eared Owls, Summit County, Targhee National Forest, Tooele County, Turkey Vultures, Utah, Wayne County, Western Bluebirds, Wilson's Phalaropes, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays, Yellow-bellied Marmots|Tags: American Barn Owl, American Bittern, American Pipit, Anthus rubescens, Aphelocoma woodhouseii, Asio flammeus, Athene cunicularia, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, Botaurus lentiginosus, Bubo virginianus, Burrowing Owl, Buteo jamaicensis, Canada x Snow Goose, Cathartes aura, Double-crested Cormorant, Falco peregrinus, Great Horned Owl, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, hybrid, Marmota flaviventris, Megaceryle alcyon, Nannopterum auritus, Peregrine Falcon, Phalaropus tricolor, Red-naped Sapsucker, Red-tailed Hawk, Short-eared Owl, Sialia mexicana, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, Turkey Vulture, Tyto furcata, Western Bluebird, Wilson's Phalarope, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, Yellow-bellied Marmot|

Wow, today is the last day of the year 2016. This is my photographic year in review from Utah, Idaho and Montana!

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Red-naped Sapsucker Showing Its Tongue

By Mia McPherson|August 28th, 2016|Categories: Birds, High Uintas, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Summit County, Uinta National Forest, Utah|Tags: adult, aspen, cavity, forest, nest, nesting cavity, nesting tree, nests, out, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, tongue, tree, woodpecker, woodpeckers|

I came across this image and realized that the Red-naped Sapsucker had its tongue stuck out and I hadn't noticed that before.

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Red-naped Sapsuckers Feeding Chicks at a Nesting Cavity in the Uintas

By Mia McPherson|June 29th, 2016|Categories: Birds, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Summit County, Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest, Utah|Tags: adult, aspen, chicks, female, food, forest, male, mates, nest, nesting behavior, nesting cavity, nesting tree, pair, prey, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, tree, trees, Uinta Mountains, woodpeckers, young|

Finding Red-naped Sapsuckers feeding chicks at a nesting cavity in the Uintas made my day!

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The Demise of the Magical Sapsucker Tree and the Luck of Finding More Nesting Cavity Trees

By Mia McPherson|June 14th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Clark County, House Wrens, Idaho, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Targhee National Forest|Tags: aspen, branch, campsite, cavities, cavity, cavity nesters, forest, House Wren, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Montana, mountains, nest, nesting cavity, nesting tree, nests, Populus tremuloides, Quaking Aspen, Red-naped Sapsucker, safe haven, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, tree, Troglodytes aedon, woodpecker, wren, wrens|

I am heart-broken about losing the Magical Sapsucker Tree but I am glad to have found a few more where the chicks are thriving and are safe so far.

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Red-naped Sapsuckers of Clark County, Idaho

By Mia McPherson|July 6th, 2014|Categories: Birds, Clark County, Idaho, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Targhee National Forest|Tags: adult, aspen, begging, cavity, chicks, feeding, female, forest, male, Montana, nesting, nesting cavity, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, woodpecker, woodpeckers, young|

It was a Sapsuckery trip to Montana and Idaho last week, with Red-naped and Williamson's Sapsuckers at their nesting cavities

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The Magical Sapsucker Tree in Clark County, Idaho

By Mia McPherson|July 4th, 2014|Categories: Birds, Clark County, House Wrens, Idaho, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Targhee National Forest, Tree Swallows, Williamson's Sapsuckers|Tags: adult, aspen, branches, cavity, chattering, fecal sacs, female, food, forest, House Wren, male, nest, nesting, nesting cavity, nesting tree, nestlings, pair, Populus tremuloides, prey, Quaking Aspen, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, secondary cavity nesters, Sphyrapicus, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, Sphyrapicus thyroideus, swallow, Tachycineta bicolor, tree, Tree Swallow, Troglodytes aedon, Williamson's Sapsucker, wooded, woodpecker, woodpeckers, wren, wrens|

A month ago I photographed a pair of Williamson's Sapsuckers excavating a nesting cavity in Idaho and this past week I spent several days photographing them again.

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Juvenile Red-naped Sapsucker in Summit County

By Mia McPherson|February 10th, 2014|Categories: Ashley National Forest, Birds, High Uintas, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Summit County, Utah|Tags: camping, forest, immature, juvenile, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, tree, wooded, woodpecker, woodpeckers, young|

The bad weather here has given me cabin fever so last night I looked through my archives and enjoyed some images from brighter, warmer days and came across this juvenile Red-naped Sapsucker image from my first camping trip to Utah's high Uintas in Summit County.

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Juvenile Red-naped Sapsucker in the high Uintas

By Mia McPherson|March 1st, 2013|Categories: Ashley National Forest, Birds, High Uintas, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Summit County, Utah|Tags: Bear River, camping, Christmas Meadows, forest, immature, juvenile, Red-naped Sapsucker, sapsucker, sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, tree, woodpecker, woodpeckers, young|

This juvenile Red-naped Sapsucker image was taken on my first camping trip in the high Uintas in Summit County, Utah not far from Christmas Meadows.

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